Question : ANTI-INDIA PROPAGANDA

(a) whether anti-India propaganda is being aired through radio/television by certain neighbouring countries across the border areas of the country;

(b) if so, the details thereof State-wise and the reaction of the Government thereto;

(c) whether the Government has received any reports/complaints that the programmes telecast/broadcast from neighbouring countries have better receptivity in the said areas in comparison to the programmes of All India Radio (AIR) and Doordarshan (DD)

(d) if so, the details thereof and the funds allocated for the upgradation of DD/AIR networks in the border areas including Bihar border; and

(e) The concrete steps/action taken/proposed to be taken by the Government to tackle such propaganda?

THE MINISTER OF STATE (INDEPENDENT CHARGE) OF THE MINISTRY OF INFORMATION AND BROADCASTING (SHRI MANISH TEWARI)

(a) & (b) There are reports that anti-India propaganda is received in the State of Jammu & Kashmir from across the border. Several progarmmes have been mounted by All India Radio and Doordarshan to counter such propaganda. All India Radio and Doordarshan are improving their coverage in Jammu & Kashmir and other border States by strengthening their network.

(c) to (e) TV/Radio signals from across the border are received in some areas. AIR/Doordarshan signals are available in such areas and their quality is quite comparable to the foreign signals. Complaints about unsatisfactory TV/AIR coverage in some border areas are occasionally received. However, no complaint about better reception of TV signals from neighboring countries as compared to Doordarshan signals have been received in the recent past. All the areas uncovered by terrestrial transmitters (including border areas in Bihar), along with the rest of the country have been provided with multichannel TV coverage through Doordarshan’s free- to- air DTH service “ DD Direct Plus”, signals of which can be received anywhere in the country with the help of small sized dish receiver system.

Doordarshan and All India Radio have been assigning priority to expansion of their coverage in border areas of the country in various expansion plans formulated from time to time. Special Packages for expansion and improvement of Doordarshan and AIR services in the North-Eastern States and Jammu & Kashmir have been implemented. At present 273 TV Transmitters of varying powers are functioning in border districts.

For further strengthening of Radio & TV coverage in J&K, a scheme involving an outlay of Rs 100 crore has been approved in the 11th Plan. This scheme, inter-alia, includes projects of establishment of five High Power TV transmitters in J&K (Kashmir region – 1; Jammu region – 1; Ladakh region – 1 besides 2 HPTs at Rajouri) and is presently under implementation.